Philosophical thought is diverse on the question of whether human beings should accord moral status to animals and, further, what place animals should have in an acceptable moral system . Some philosophers consider the proper treatment and direct moral concern of animals to be unjustified, because the use of animals by human beings is considered part of the natural process of life. On the other hand, other philosophers view animals in the same way as human beings. These philosophers believe that animals have the capacity to experience both positive and negative emotions or sensations and can suffer in the same way as human beings and therefore deserve moral status. This essay will discuss these two conflicting views on the proper treatment of animals, analyzing Aristotle's views on the moral status of animals and his belief that non-human animals do not possess the ability to reason and therefore should see themselves refuse moral status. Furthermore, this essay will compare Aristotle's views with those of Jeremy Bentham, arguing for Bentham's view that the capacity to suffer rather than the capacity to reason should set the standard for who or what should acquire moral status. It is evident that a natural hierarchy of living things exists in our world, with human beings placed at the top. The capacity or ability of a living being to experience, do or understand something according to its specific nature determines where it will be classified in this natural hierarchy. While beings such as plants, animals, and humans all possess the ability to absorb nutrients to aid their growth and life in general, only animals and humans have the ability to be consciously aware of the different ex...... middle of paper ... it is acceptable to use animals for certain human needs such as food, provided the animal is raised humanely, treated in a morally permissible manner during his life and killed using a painless method. In conclusion, even if human beings are accorded a privileged place over animals in the natural hierarchy of morally significant beings, it is not permissible to suggest that animals do not deserve moral status. Aristotle's view that non-human animals do not possess the capacity to reason and should therefore be denied moral status should be ignored in favor of Bentham's view that non-human animals have the capacity to perceive pain and pleasure, whether or not they can communicate verbally. these feelings, as well as the capacity to suffer and must therefore be considered compulsorily and treated with respect or moral status.